trillion

noun tril·lion \ ˈtri(l)-yən \

|Updated on: 7 Jul 2018

Definition of trillion

1 : a number equal to 1,000 times one billion — see Table of Numbers

2 : an indeterminately large number

a trillion mosquitoes out tonight

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trillion

adjective

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trillionth

play \ˈtri(l)-yən(t)th\ adjective or noun

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Recent Examples of trillion from the Web

These are financial intermediaries ranging from insurance companies to real-estate financiers and many other specialists representing tens of trillions of dollars.

— jon talton, The Seattle Times, "How bubbles and risk came together to cause the panic 10 years ago," 26 June 2018
While the early part of the digestive tract is largely free of bacteria, these later structures are home to trillions of gut microorganisms.

— markham heid, Time, "Is It Possible To Eat Too Much Fruit?," 6 June 2018
By contrast, the 2016 EPA voluntary health advisory for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) warned that exposure to the chemicals at levels above 70 parts per trillion could be dangerous.

— ariel wittenberg, Science | AAAS, "After controversy, U.S. releases report showing elevated health risks from nonstick chemicals," 20 June 2018
Vedanta is one of dozens of startups across the globe that hope to make medicines based on the latest insights about the trillions of bacteria, fungi, and other microbes that live inside and on our bodies.

— jonathan saltzman, BostonGlobe.com, "Startup aims to make allies of human gut’s microbes," 19 June 2018
That could now gain momentum with the nudge from large investors who manage trillions of dollars of funds.

— kelly gilblom, Houston Chronicle, "Big investors pressure oil companies on climate change," 18 May 2018
The stakes are enormous, affecting not just ownership of offshore mineral and fishing rights but also potentially trillions of dollars of coastal real estate.

— christopher flavelle, Bloomberg.com, "The Fighting Has Begun Over Who Owns Land Drowned by Climate Change," 25 Apr. 2018
The financial crisis wiped out trillions of dollars of savings and capital in America, sparking an entire movement against the top 1 percent of earners and shining a bright light on income inequality and the wealth gap in the United States.

— michael taylor, San Antonio Express-News, "Is the wealth gap really all that bad?," 27 May 2018
This absentee ownership has trillions of dollars, but like all hedge funds, wants to grind out profits and keep their shareholders happy above all.

— latimes.com, "Letters: There doesn't appear to be a cure for these Blues," 18 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'trillion.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.